small things...

Sunday Night Dinner

When I went away to college I spoke to my parents every Sunday night.  We did it whether or not we always felt in the mood to speak – it was the connecting once a week no matter what that seemed important.  This led to strained conversations some weeks, but that’s life in family, right?  Though I can barely remember that these days once existed – email was just kind of introduced during this time on college campuses, and even though my parents had a home computer, the internet in all it’s vast reaching capabilities was still a couple years away.  (jeez, how old AM I?) So the phone call was the only and obvious choice for staying connected to my parents from across the country.  Maybe we wrote a few letters too?  I can’t remember.

When I moved home the summer that my dad died we shifted this weekly phone call to a weekly meal.  Even though I was living at home at the time and we ate a lot of dinners together – we always ate Sunday dinner together.  After my dad died my mom and I kept up this tradition.  My sister and her family joined us when they could, but they weren’t always able, so as a result a lot of those Sunday nights were just mom and me. 

Some of our best talks, and worst fights took place on Sunday nights.  It’s probably when I really got to know my mom as a person.  The meals were never fancy, but without fail they included a green salad with mom’s favorite dressing (it should be yours too – it’s insanely good) and a scoop of chocolate frozen yogurt.

My sister and I have adopted a semi-regular Sunday night dinner tradition of our own (not weekly, but we try for bi weekly or at least once-a-monthly!)  Some Sundays I’ll go to her place and hang out with Emmett while Megan cooks.  This often involves racing cars until they crash over and over again and sometimes it involves hiding in his room from bad guys.  Other Sundays they’ll come over and we’ll hang out in the living room or Emmett will watch a show while Megan and I catch up while I cook.  **These nights used to always include a dance party interlude too…time to bring it back!**

Last night Megan and I had our own Sunday night dinner and it was my turn to host/cook.

Our meal included a little bit of this

That was included in this baby

And of course a green salad dressed perfectly with mom’s favorite dressing

Every time I use it I think of my mom and for that reason alone it’s worth using.  But seriously, you should buy this stuff.  It’s that good.  And then you could think of me, or your own mom…or whatever – just buy it and taste it and have your taste buds change forever.

you’re welcome.

One more time?

Remember how we all raised $4200 last year to fund cancer research?

What do you say we do that again?

More details to follow.

I’m heading to the TNT kickoff party today to find out more information and perhaps get this thing started again 2011-style.

whatever that means

Placating mushrooms

On Saturday the Green City Market held one of it’s few winter indoor farmers markets.  The theme for this one was Snout-to-Tail and featured a number of local meat producers

 

I should have bought some Elk because I’m definitely starting to suffer from a little bit of the wintertime blues.  Usually I can hold off the winter blues until February, but alas. and harumph.

So a little farmers market was just what I needed.  As you can imagine, this being Chicago in the winter, there isn’t much variety to the veggies available this time of year.  Tons of root veggies

There were a few farmers selling packaged salsas and jams and preserves and other tasty canned goodies that I thought about doing for myself this past fall but didn’t.  I bought some butternut squash, onions and some lovely, lovely mushrooms from these folks

This table had a little crowd patiently waiting to purchase their shooms and when it was finally my turn I said, “Just some mushrooms, please.”

The guy looked at me for a beat and asked, “Just some mushrooms?”

Too which I replied, “Um….yes?”

He bent down and whispered to the box of mushrooms I’d selected, “She didn’t mean it guys.”

I tried to back track and reword my request to something more flattering to the mushrooms (?), but I couldn’t come up with anything and instead stage-whispered to the mushrooms myself, “I’m sure you’re delicious.”

I then glanced around a bit self-consciously, stuffed the mushrooms in my bag and skedaddled.  I’m not sure that mushrooms have feelings, but mushroom growers sure do. Sorry mushroom dude.

 

I knew just what I wanted to make with my purchases…Baked mushroom risotto with carmelized onions! (drool). 

These little beaut’s became this completely delicious and comforting dish:

When my sister and I were growing up our family had a pretty standard rotation of Sunday night dinners.  One of which (and one of my favorites) was Chicken n’ rice.  Chicken baked in wild rice and cream of mushroom soup.  This tasted SO MUCH like that only w/o the icky cream of mushroom soup!  Win!

My cat’s breath smells like cat food

please tell me you know what that’s from….

I got a new roommate last weekend.  Her name is Mika

My sister, nephew and I headed out to a nearby animal shelter a week ago today determined to come home cat owners.  Megan and I’d grown up with cats, but neither of us had owned one since moving out at 18.  I’m not totally sure how the decision to get cats came up again, but when my sister said, “Don’t you think it would be nice to come home to a cute fuzzy face?” I guess I thought it sounded pretty good.

To reach the cats at this shelter, you first enter through a short hallway that where about 7 little chihuahua or other little dogs like that were stacked in cages yipping as you pass by.  They are saying to you, “hey.you.hey.you.hey.you.look.at.me.look.at.me.hey.you”

The cats are similarly stacked in cages lining the next hall, but they are all sleepy and tucked into little balls in their fleecy cat beds.  Finally at the end of that hall you reach the “cat room”.  Entering into this room was like the worst episode of animal hoarders.  About 150 (or more) cats are in this room.  Sleeping on top of each other, climbing on the tiered tower looming in the center of the room.  People keep asking me if it smelled…and it didn’t, badly anyways. But it was dusty and furry and there were cats who reached out to you with their paws as you passed by.  Cats who clung on to you and wouldn’t let go.  It was completely overwhelming and I walked out of that room thinking that maybe I didn’t want a cat after all.  How does someone choose a cat in a room like that?

Megan, Emmett and I found ourselves back outside that room seated on benches.  I felt a bit defeated and thought ‘maybe I’m just not a pet person.’  I was about to suggest that we just leave when one of the volunteers offered to show us a couple cats that were out sleeping in the cages.  These were cats that didn’t do as well in the “cat room”.  Probably a good fit for people who didn't do so well in the "cat room".

I can’t really explain how either of us made the decision to adopt these cats because it happened so quickly.  Part of it I think was the drastic difference in energy between the cat room and these sleepy, quiet cats was comforting.  Part of it was having someone make the suggestion, “how about this one?”  And thirdly, she looked me in the face, let me hold her and went quietly into my cat carrier.  I guess you sometimes just let the choice be made. 

Now both cats are totally settled in to their respective homes.  I’m getting used to leaving her at home when I leave and finding her their when I return.  And it turns out it is nice to come home to a cute fuzzy face.

Friday night’s alright

Redecorating a bit here at Small Things.  Hope you like the new banner image!

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Had dinner last night with a good friend for a belated celebration of her birthday.  We went to Nightwood Restaurant in the Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago.  It’s a cozy, chic place with leather chairs, great drinks and a hip and attractive staff.  I drove there directly after work and quickly lamented the frazzled/counselor look I was (not) rocking as soon as the hostess asked me if she could take my coat.  I relented, gave up the coat, smoothed back my loosening ponytail and took my seat to wait for the guest of honor. 

Chicago was in the middle of a little lake-effect snow fall and my friend was running late.  At the server’s recommendation I ordered the Warsteiner lager and glanced at the menu.  Nightwood writes their menu by hand each day and focuses on local meats and veggies.  This is from their website and pretty close to our menu from last night:

We split the mixed greens salad which was fresh and crisp with the most amazing homemade croutons.  they were buttery and crunchy and for some reason kept reminding me of a summer carnival (??) I’m going to have to go back and think a little harder about that one.  For my entree I ordered the Spit-roasted half-chicken.  It was just the right amount of food and left me feeling perfectly satisfied.

But we had dessert anyways.

I mean, they had bread pudding, for pete’s sake.  Salted-caramel bread pudding. You try to pass that up.  and we shared it by the way, so there.

Aside from being one of the best meals I’ve had out in a lonnngggg time, it was just a good night in general.  It’s been such a long time since I’ve gone out on a Friday night after work.  I’d forgotten what a fun, kinetic energy the world has going on right after work on a Friday night.

I’m thinking I’d like a few more Friday night’s out after work. Who’s in?

Moving the bod

Over the last few years I’ve gotten into the habit of moving my bod less and less.  I used to be more naturally active b/c I could walk or bike to work.  Now with my 45 minute car commute each way that’s gone out the window.  So this year my goal is to move my bod more and more. 

I’m a girl who likes a goal and who likes a challenge when it comes to exercise.  Routines, for me, are had to establish…but I can get psyched for an upcoming physical challenge (eg. last year’s Grand Canyon hike).  I was looking for something to get excited about over the weekend and came across…

The Lazy Man (or lady) Ironman!

You probably don’t know this about me, but I’m a bit obsessed with the Ironman race.  More specifically, the World Championship Ironman in Kona, HI.  But any of them will do.  It probably has something to do with ABC sports and their ability to tell a good triumph-of-the-human-spirit story (for which i’m a total sucker).

But I’m amazed and inspired by people who take on this challenge.  I don’t know if I’ll ever actually do an Ironman, much less the Kona race…well never say never.

ANYWAYS…

The idea behind the Lazy Man Ironman is that you do the same distances for each sport as you would in an actual race (Swim: 2.4 miles; Bike: 112 miles; Run: 26.2) but over a much longer period of time….like 5 weeks.

I’ve figured out what I would need to do in each sport/each week to reach the goal:

.5 mile swim

22.4 miles bike

5.25 miles run/walk

Aside from the biking this seems do-able.  I *hate* the stationary bike…but I’m worried it’s too cold to bike outside and I don’t have the outdoor gear to make it tolerable.  So I either need to find a way to enjoy biking-to-nowhere, or i need to bundle up and head out.

Any tips???

2010 round up

January 2nd is always a bit of a downer for me.  January 1st is always all,

yeah! This year is going to KICK ASS! Everything will be different!

Then January 2nd comes around I’m all

whatever. life is still totally the same. stupid new year

So to shake myself out of my inevitable day 2 slump I’ve decided to do a little 2010 recap to remember that last year had some awesome moments and maybe re-inspire my fickle little mojo back into gear.  So here we go

January

Announced my plan to raise money for the Leukemia &Lymphoma society by hiking the Grand Canyon

 

thinking about another round with Team-in-Training this year.  Anyone interested in joining me????????????????????????

February

Started my training hikes and quickly realized I was the slowest of the bunch.  Sometimes this was okay, sometimes this was challenging.  But always it was cold as hell.

 

March

Ah, the month of my birth.  This was actually a hard month for me.  The training hikes continued.  But I sick for the first time and this issue continued for the next several months.  I wasn’t as upfront on the blog with what was going on, but the digestive issues I was having really started taking a toll in March.  hmmmm….this isn’t really helping my bad mood this morning….let’s move on to April

April 

Ahhh, and then April came around…and spring sprang!  A no fail way to my heart is to warm up the air a bit and push some flower buds up from under ground.  I’d be super motivated if the New Year happened in April.  During this month I made some headway towards healing my belly, I made my fundraising goal(!) and I took a quick trip to Michigan…and oh, yeah…spring arrived

 

May

Now May was a big month.  I took a super secret weekend trip with some lovable girlfriends to Tucson

Then two weeks later I was off to the Grand Canyon for the big event.  I wrote all about the weekend

Here: First day Phoenix

Here: Day 2

Here: eh, maybe you should just read the whole thing!  Click here

And a photo that I didn’t include the first time around

 

June

Apparently all I did in June was make Peanut Butter

 

July

July’s highlights included a tasty evening having dinner out at my favorite farm and a conversation with a would-be guru that wasn’t as enlightening as I’d hoped it would be.  Perhaps I should have listened more closely to this guy’s wise words:

 

August

In August I started thinking/talking a lot about food, trying to figure out foods that work better for me.  I started a “transformation plan” I apparently ditched a “transformation plan” to be honest I’d forgotten all about it until I started doing this recap. oops.

The highlights were certainly a lone trip to a beer fest

and a night out with some of my oldest and dearest

 

September

I cooked some good food

I got inspired to “Do Life”

I remembered an old friend

I had an epic trip to Michigan with the cutest nephew on the planet

learned a dance move or two

October

October was fun!

I took a wine tour/girls weekend in Michigan with one of my besties

I dreamt about Buddhist monks and my father

I tried to become a Good Mood Blogger (thanks for the votes!)

and I celebrated my Grandparents 70th wedding anniversary in style…heres to 70 more!  ?

November

Another good one!

A fall dinner out on the farm complete with a bread pudding dessert that I’m still thinking about

A trip to NYC to make up for the one I had to miss last November

Attended a talk from Mr. Universe himself

A college volleyball game with my lovely and talented family

and pumpkin bread, delicious pumpkin bread

 

December

Well, December is barely over isn’t it?  The highlights involved food, eating it, cooking it and searching for it.  The lowlights included the opposite of enjoying food.  I had the stomach flu twice! how rude.

The month and year ended with some strong cocktails with my neighbors and fireworks on the beach outside my home.

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I am determined to make 2011 the best year yet.  I want it to be full of adventures, travel, love, health, writing, family, good food and tons and tons of photos with stories to tell.

stay tuned.

join in.

kick ass

xo

erin